Wikipedia

Mathias Jørgensen

This article is about the Danish defender. For the Danish striker, see Mathias Jørgensen (footballer, born 2000). For the Danish cyclist, see Mathias Norsgaard.

Mathias Jattah-Njie Jørgensen (Danish pronunciation: [ˈjɶɐ̯ˀn̩sn̩]; born 23 April 1990), commonly known by his mononymous nickname Zanka, is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for Belgian Pro League club Anderlecht.

Mathias Jørgensen
Jørgensen playing for Huddersfield Town in 2018
Personal information
Full name Mathias Jattah-Njie Jørgensen[1]
Date of birth (1990-04-23) 23 April 1990 (age 34)[2]
Place of birth Copenhagen, Denmark[2]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back, right-back
Team information
Current team
 Anderlecht
Number 13
Youth career
1994–2007 B.93
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2012 Copenhagen 92 (6)
2012–2014 PSV Eindhoven 14 (2)
2013–2014 Jong PSV 7 (1)
2014–2017 Copenhagen 93 (4)
2017–2019 Huddersfield Town 62 (3)
2019–2021 Fenerbahçe 18 (2)
2020 → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 9 (0)
2020–2021 → Copenhagen (loan) 26 (1)
2021–2024 Brentford 40 (2)
2024– Anderlecht 2 (0)
International career‡
2006 Denmark U16 1 (0)
2006–2007 Denmark U17 3 (0)
2007 Denmark U18 1 (0)
2008–2012 Denmark U21 15 (1)
2008–2024 Denmark 37 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:31, 5 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:26, 10 October 2024 (UTC)

Jørgensen began his career at boyhood club FC Copenhagen, playing regularly in five Superliga seasons, before a move to PSV Eindhoven in 2012, where he spent two seasons in the Eredivisie before returning to Denmark after finding his chances limited. He joined Premier League club Huddersfield Town in July 2017 for a fee of £3.5 million, where he played until their relegation in 2019. Afterwards, he played for Fenerbahçe, before returning to the Premier League in 2021 where he signed with Brentford.

Formerly an international at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-21 level, Jørgensen made his senior international debut for Denmark aged 18 in November 2008.

Club career

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FC Copenhagen

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Born to a Danish mother and a Gambian father, Jørgensen moved to FC Copenhagen from neighbouring club B.93, where he had played in first-team matches even at the young age of 16. He signed a three-year contract with FCK on 26 June 2007.[3] Before signing with the Danish champions, he had visited Arsenal for a one-week trial.[4]

On 21 July 2007, Jørgensen strained the inner ligament in the left knee in a reserve team match – less than a month after he moved to the club.[5] On 9 September, he played again for the reserve team.[6] His first team debut came on 26 September 2007 in a cup match against FC Fredericia. He substituted Oscar Wendt five minutes before full-time, in the match FCK won 3–1.[7] Three days later he got his Superliga debut, this time replacing Hjalte Nørregaard about 15 minutes before full-time.[8]

Only eight days after his first team debut, Jørgensen was thrown on pitch in the extra time of the UEFA Cup first round second leg at Parken Stadium against RC Lens, after captain Michael Gravgaard had received a red card. He was substituted for Marcus Allbäck and played in the central defence together with Brede Hangeland, and they prevented any more goals for Lens, despite being down a man.[9]

On 19 November 2008, he made his debut for the Denmark national football team in a friendly against Wales.[10]

After Roland Nilsson became manager for Copenhagen he became captain for "The Lions". 22 February 2012 it was announced that Jørgensen would join Dutch club PSV Eindhoven on a free transfer during the summer transfer window.[11]

PSV

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Jørgensen was featured in an unofficial pre-season tournament, The Polish Masters, in July 2012 and scored his first goal for PSV in their game against S.L. Benfica on 22 July. However, he struggled to break into PSV's first XI and only played 14 matches for the club over the course of two years.

Return to FC Copenhagen

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On 7 July 2014, Jørgensen returned to his former team FC Copenhagen for a fee of around 600,000 Euros.[12]

Huddersfield Town

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On 7 July 2017, Huddersfield Town confirmed the signing of Jørgensen from FC Copenhagen for £3.5 million on a three-year contract.[13] Jørgensen made 65 total appearances for the Terriers in his two seasons with the club as they suffered relegation to the Championship after the 2018–19 season.[14]

Fenerbahçe

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On 10 August 2019, Huddersfield Town confirmed that the defender had joined Fenerbahçe on a permanent deal. The terms of the transfer were undisclosed.[14]

On 31 January 2020, Jørgensen joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.[15]

On 5 October 2020, Jørgensen again returned to F.C. Copenhagen on loan until the end of the 2020–21 season.[16]

Brentford

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On 9 September 2021, Jørgensen joined Premier League club Brentford on a one-year contract.[17] During an injury-hit 2021–22 season,[18] made 10 appearances and scored one goal.[19] After his contract expired in June 2022, it was announced by the club that, whilst he would depart as an official squad member, he would be allowed to train with them in order to complete his rehabilitation on an adductor injury and enable him to find a new club.[20][18][21] In July 2022, he joined the club's pre-season training camp in Germany, and on 22 August 2022 signed a new one-year contract with an option for an extra year, fulfilling both.[22][23]

Anderlecht

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On 15 August 2024, Jørgensen joined Belgian Pro League club Anderlecht on a one-year deal.[24]

On 17 August 2024, he made his debut for Anderlecht, immediately being placed into the starting XI in a 3-1 away win in a Belgian Pro League match against KV Mechelen, providing his first assist for the club.

International career

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In May 2018 he was named in Denmark's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[25] In the round of 16 against Croatia, he scored the opening goal in the first minute of the match. In the 116th minute, he commit a professional foul in the penalty area to prevent Croatia from scoring a late winning goal, and was subsequently yellow carded. His tackle temporarily paid off as Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved Luka Modrić's penalty kick, maintaining the 1–1 draw and forcing the match into a penalty shootout. However, Denmark would go on to lose the shootout 3–2.

In May 2021, he was named in Denmark's 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020, where Denmark reached the semi-finals, and was selected again for UEFA Euro 2024, where Denmark went out in the last 16.

Personal life

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Jørgensen previously dated Hungarian model Enikő Mihalik.[26]

Jørgensen wrote an article against homophobia in football for the Danish Football Player’s Association in 2016.[27] In February 2017, following the monetary settlement that the players association had with the Denmark national team, Jørgensen donated the 667,000 Danish kroner ($94,380) to help fund a new pro-LGBT+ campaign called “Fodbold for alle’ or ‘Football for all’ and visited schools to talk about the problem of homophobia.[27][28]

Jørgensen married Nanna Ottosen in April 2022 in Chelsea, London. They have a son, born 31 October 2021.[29]

Nickname

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Jørgensen received his nickname "Zanka" from the film Cool Runnings, in which the character played by Doug E. Doug is named Sanka.[30] The nickname was coined by Johan Lange in 2000, while both Lange and Jørgensen were playing for B.93.[31] Lange would go on to be one of the assistant managers during Jørgensen's first spell at FC Copenhagen, and he would later serve as the technical director when Jørgensen returned to the club in 2014.[32]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 1 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Copenhagen 2007–08[33] Danish Superliga 12 1 0 0 — 0 0 12 1
2008–09[34] 20 0 0 0 — 10 0 30 0
2009–10[34] 24 4 0 0 — 9 1 33 5
2010–11[34] 25 1 1 1 — 11 0 37 1
2011–12[34] 11 0 2 0 — 4 0 17 0
Total 92 6 3 1 — 34 0 129 7
PSV Eindhoven 2012–13[34] Eredivisie 5 2 3 1 — 2 1 10 4
2013–14[34] 9 0 0 0 — 5 0 14 0
Total 14 2 3 1 — 7 1 24 4
Jong PSV 2013–14[34] Eerste Divisie 7 1 — — — 7 1
Copenhagen 2014–15[34] Danish Superliga 29 1 4 0 — 9 1 42 2
2015–16[34] 31 3 5 1 — 3 0 39 4
2016–17[34] 33 0 3 0 — 15 2 51 2
Total 93 4 12 1 — 27 3 132 8
Huddersfield Town 2017–18[35] Premier League 38 0 2 0 0 0 — 40 0
2018–19[36] 24 3 1 0 0 0 — 25 3
Total 62 3 3 0 0 0 — 65 3
Fenerbahçe 2019–20[34] Süper Lig 16 2 3 1 — — 19 3
2020–21[34] 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0
Total 18 2 3 1 — — 21 3
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 2019–20[34] Bundesliga 9 0 2 1 — — 11 1
Copenhagen (loan) 2020–21[34] Danish Superliga 26 1 1 0 — — 27 1
Brentford 2021–22[19] Premier League 8 1 0 0 2 0 — 10 1
2022–23[37] 18 0 0 0 2 0 — 20 0
2023–24[38] 14 1 2 0 2 0 — 18 1
Total 40 2 2 0 6 0 — 48 2
Anderlecht 2024–25[39] Belgian Pro League 2 0 0 0 — 2[a] 0 4 0
Career total 363 21 29 5 6 0 70 5 468 31
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 5 June 2024[40][41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Denmark 2008 1 0
2010 2 0
2011 3 0
2016 3 0
2017 2 0
2018 9 1
2019 8 1
2020 6 0
2021 1 0
2023 1 0
2024 1 0
Total 37 2
Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jørgensen goal.
List of international goals scored by Mathias Jørgensen
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 July 2018 Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia 15   Croatia 1–0 1–1 (2–3 p) 2018 FIFA World Cup
2 26 March 2019 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland 22    Switzerland 1–3 3–3 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

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FC Copenhagen

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "2021/22 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Jørgensen: Mathias Jattah-Njie Jørgensen: Player". BDFutbol. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Stortalent til F.C. København" (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
  4. ^ "Lørdagstræning i PARKEN" (in Danish). TV 2 Sport. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  5. ^ "Lørdagstræning i PARKEN" (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 18 August 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  6. ^ "Christiansen: – Bedre dag for dag" (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 11 September 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  7. ^ "26.09. FC Fredericia – F.C. København (Kampreferat)" (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  8. ^ "29.09. F.C. København – Lyngby Boldklub (Kampreferat)" (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 29 September 2007. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
  9. ^ "04.10. F.C. København – RC Lens (Kampreferat)" (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  10. ^ "Bellamy matchvinder i Brøndby" (in Danish). bold.dk. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  11. ^ "Jørgensen agrees to swap København for PSV". uefa.com. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Officielt: FCK henter Zanka hjem". Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  13. ^ "TRANSFER: MATHIAS JØRGENSEN JOINS TOWN". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Defender departs Huddersfield Town permanently". Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Foetuna leiht Zanka aus" (in German). Fortuna Düsseldorf. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  16. ^ "ZANKA RETURNS TO F.C. COPENHAGEN ON DEADLINE DAY". F.C. Copenhagen. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Brentford sign Danish international Zanka". Brentford F.C. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Zanka". FOX Sports. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Games played by Mathias Jørgensen in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  20. ^ "FIRST TEAM SQUAD UPDATE". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  21. ^ "New coaches add quality says Thomas Frank". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Peter Gilham's Blog: Brentford in Germany Day Three". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  23. ^ "ZANKA SIGNS NEW BEES DEAL". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Mathias 'Zanka' Jørgensen versterkt de paars-witte defensie" [Mathias 'Zanka' Jørgensen strengthens the purple-white defense]. www.rsca.be (in Dutch). 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad – Final 23-man lists". Goal.com. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Mihalik Enikő megtalálta az igazit". 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  27. ^ a b "Danish internationals dig deep to fund anti-homophobia campaign". Reuters. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  28. ^ "These pro-LGBT+ football posters have been popping up all over Copenhagen". SBS. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  29. ^ Carl Emil Tscherning Nielsen (6 April 2022). "Mathias Zanka Jørgensen er blevet gift". Seoghoer. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  30. ^ "Fra A til Z som Zanka" (in Danish). sporten.dk. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  31. ^ "Manden bag Zanka" (in Danish). tipsbladet.dk. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  32. ^ "Johan Lange" (in Danish). F. C. København. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  33. ^ Mathias Jørgensen at WorldFootball.net
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mathias Jørgensen at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  35. ^ "Games played by Mathias Jørgensen in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  36. ^ "Games played by Mathias Jørgensen in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Games played by Mathias Jørgensen in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Games played by Mathias Jørgensen in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Games played by Mathias Jørgensen in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  40. ^ Mathias Jørgensen national team profile at the Danish Football Association (in Danish)
  41. ^ Mathias Jørgensen at National-Football-Teams.com
  42. ^ "Årets Talent 2008" (in Danish). Spillerforeningen. 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  43. ^ Nielsen, Pia Schou (17 November 2008). "Martin Laursen Årets Spiller" (in Danish). Danish Football Association. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  44. ^ Berendt, Lars (5 December 2008). "Lumb og Eriksen nyeste Arla Landsholdstalenter" (in Danish). Danish Football Association. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
  45. ^ "Årets Spiller 2016/2017: Mathias Zanka". F.C. København. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
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